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September 15, 2005
Fair play for girls!
Educating girls is the key to a nation’s development. To build a healthier, more peaceful and more equitable world, it is important that both boys and girls are educated, writes Rizwana Naqvi
Improving educational opportunities for girls has been a Unicef priority in all South Asian countries. But this is being particularly emphasized in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for the achievement of gender parity and secondary education. The organization has been aiming to bring more girls to school, ensure that they stay in the education system and that they are equipped with the basic tools required to succeed in life.
With 46 million children out of school in the region –– the majority of them being girls -– Unicef and the Asian Cricket Council have joined hands to highlight this issue and its impact on children, society and the progress of countries in the region.
In Pakistan, Unicef and the Pakistan Cricket Board (women’s wing) have launched a campaign titled ‘Fair Play for Girls!’. In this regard a women’s cricket match has been organized on September 15 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
The idea is to utilize the mass appeal of cricket in the country to convey the message that it is important to educate girls as well as boys and it is every child’s right to play and participate in recreational activities. Many children, especially girls, are kept out of organized games and sports throughout Asia.
Education for girls has been proven as the best investment that any society can make. Fair Play for Girls! aims to raise awareness, generate public support, and mobilize resources for girls’ education and also seeks to engage governments, businesses, community leaders, and sporting organizations.
In our country women are the most neglected sector of the society. They are discriminated against; shielded away due to traditional and tribal beliefs that women bear the sole responsibility of the family’s honour, and hence are confined to homes to avoid situations that may damage their reputation and bring shame to the family.
Their movement is restricted and they are expected to do household chores and rear children. Young girls are taught to help their mothers in the daily chores, fetch water, collect firewood and look after younger siblings. Little attention is paid to their education, in fact, it is not considered important to educate girls in certain areas.
Girls are kept out of school for several reasons, the foremost being discrimination which is the result of deep rooted attitude that girls cannot be economically productive and hence there’s no benefit in investing in their education. Women are responsible only for keeping the house and rearing children.
Educating girls is the key to a nation’s development. To build a healthier, more peaceful and more equitable world, it is important that both boys and girls are educated. Education is vital in ensuring better quality of life for all children and a better world for all people. But it is not possible if girls are left behind and not given proper education.
In countries where girls enjoy equal educational opportunities, it has been proven that educating girls yields spectacular social benefits for the current and future generations. An educated girl tends to marry late and have fewer children. She is better equipped to take care of her family and her children are healthier and are better looked after.
An educated woman can protect herself and her family against communicable diseases. She is able to take wise decisions regarding herself and her family. She is not only more productive at home but is also better paid in the workplace. Besides this, she can play a more active role in social, economic and political decision making.
All these factors contribute to a nation’s progress; no country can be expected to progress with half its population still uneducated and secluded from the outside world. The choice is ours; it is high time that we take definite decisions.
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